NAIM MAADAD
Chief executive and founder
Gates Hospitality
gateshospitality.com
Naim.maadad
Experience matters
With a diversified portfolio of international brands, homegrown food and beverage concepts, and operating hospitality assets throughout the world, we are proven operators in the industry and have a global perspective, including what’s happening here in the Middle East.
What’s also important is that we are not just consultants; we also have our own business and brands, such as Reform and Bistro D’ Arts, so we are able to offer advice based on firsthand experience. By knowing what works, and more importantly what doesn’t, we are able to guide our clients. We are critical thinkers who are frank and direct, with hospitality in our hearts.
Bleisure tourism
I think the speed at which the industry has bounced back is the biggest highlight of all. The pandemic has forced us to re-evaluate the way we live and work, and the industry has done well to adapt, whether it’s ensuring restaurants and hotel lobbies have the facilities for mobile working or developing packages for “bleisure” visitors who now have more flexibility to work from wherever they like.
But it’s not all work. Many people are quite rightly placing more importance on “self-care” and are looking for experiences that allow them to switch off. This could be in the form of a resort that focuses on well-being, such as Six Senses Zighy Bay, or venues that promote mindfulness, be it by choice of décor or even daily yoga classes. This year, the industry has focused on how they play a huge role in making people “feel good,” something that I hope will continue in 2023.
Dubai in demand
I think the most important thing is that we enter 2023 with more certainty than we did 2022. Free of restrictions and with the number of tourists visiting reaching pre-pandemic levels, Dubai is thriving, and the hospitality industry is very much at the heart of that.
With a younger demographic coming through Dubai, the industry will need to continue to adapt to the demand for experiences rather than standard dining or hotel stays. With new attractions opening all the time, there’s a move away from a traditional “sit by the pool for two weeks” or a dining experience that only focuses on the culinary aspect. Businesses that succeed in 2023 will be the ones that offer experiences that are exclusive, tailor-made and truly are out of the ordinary.